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| Where is Costa Rica? |
This small country is
located in Central America, between Nicaragua and Panama.
This location is ideal due to it’s proximity to the United
States which makes the country very accessible from
virtually any state in the union.
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| How do I get
there? |
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Currently
there are direct non-stop flights from most major US cities
such as Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, New York, Boston,
Miami, Phoenix, Ft. Lauderdale and Atlanta. Flying times
vary depending on the departure city but to give you a
general idea from Miami it only takes 2 hours 45 minutes.
Most flights land in Juan Santamaria International airport
in San Jose (the capital city) however there is another
international airport located in the city of Liberia, 3
hours away from San José.
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| What do you mean
by “small country”? |
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Costa
Rica has roughly 32000 square miles which means that it is
similar in size to the state of West Virginia. This small
size means that it is possible to travel around the country
with relative ease either by bus or rental car.
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What’s the best means of transportation once in Costa Rica? |
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It
really depends on your own preference and budget. The
easiest way is to use the Gray Line shuttle service with
daily departures to most major tourist destinations within
the country. Their service is friendly and efficient.
However, if you are more of an independent nature, then you
may want to rent a car from any of the usual companies such
as Alamo, Budget, Avis, National, Payless, etc. And if you
are on a really tight budget, then public transportation is
always an option with bus service available virtually
anywhere in the country. Finally, taxi service is also
available at a reasonable cost at most cities and towns. All
taxis are red with a yellow triangle with the license plate
number and authorized area on each of the front doors. Just
make sure to ask the driver to turn the “maría” (the meter)
on before you depart.
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| Is
the water safe to drink? What about other health issues? |
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Yes, you
may drink tap water at most cities and towns. Still, when in
doubt, inquire at the hotel’s desk or go for bottled water.
Actually, it is uncommon to get stomach illness unless you
over do it with tropical fruits or beer. On the other hand,
no special shots or vaccines are recommended unless you are
planning to go deep into the jungle or to very isolated
regions of the country.
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Is it safe to travel around the country? |
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Certainly, Costa Rica is one of the longest standing
democracies in Latin America, with uninterrupted free
elections since 1949. Actually, it was the first country to
voluntarily abolish its standing army as it is clearly
specified in the current constitution. Of course, as
anywhere in the world, it is important not to leave your
“common sense” at home and follow some basic recommendations
such as not carrying large amounts of cash with you at all
times, keeping an eye on your belongings and being careful
with overly friendly people. Pay special attention to your
passport, and leave it inside your hotel safe whenever
possible (for driving all you need to carry is your license
and a photocopy of your passport's ID page).
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What type of hotels may be found in Costa Rica?
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This
little country has hotels of all types and budgets. From the
very classy ones with 18 hole golf courses, 24 hour room
service, resort style beachfront properties, to the very
convenient “lodges” in the more remote areas.
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| Where can I call in case of emergency? |
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Anywhere in the country you may dial 911
for most emergencies but keep in mind that phone operators
don’t usually speak perfect English. To call the United
States embassy simply dial 2220-3939 from any phone within
the country (there are no long distance codes)
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| What is Airport Boulevard? |
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The Airport Boulevard entertainment complex
is just a couple of minutes away from Juan Santamaria
International Airport in Costa Rica. This street features a
variety of services including a 24 hour Denny's restaurant,
a Rostipollos chicken restaurant, Pirates Sports Bar &
Grill, Fiesta Casino (the largest casino in town), a rental
car return center, and two hotels, including the Holiday Inn
Express San José Airport. All these services are within
walking distance from the hotel and a shuttle service is
provided between each facility and the international
airport.
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